Balvinder Ruby is a man of many vocations. Based in Sydney, he is Founder Board Member at Sydney Investors Professionals and Business Network (SIPBN), writer, and someone actively engaged in community work and politics. Ruby says it was a childhood dream to be an author, a journey that did not take off until adulthood when he started contributing articles to various publications. But it was amid the instability of the pandemic that he resorted to poetry, which has now seen the light of print.
“The pandemic was a big reason. It provided enough time to reflect on life, its harsh realities, and the futilities of minor egoistic animosities, bickering and insinuations,” he says.
His first and new book The Provocateur: Spilling Beans By All Means is a book of poems. And of course, there is one poem about COVID-19.
Ruby is originally from Punjab, India, and migrated to Australia 25 years ago. He also spills the beans on his second upcoming book which is a far cry from poetry. It looks at the emergence of a new world order with the US losing its stronghold as a superpower. In conversation with Balvinder Ruby.
➝ What influenced you to come out with this book of poems?
As you know, a picture speaks a thousand words; similarly, a poem speaks a million words. As I wanted to say so many things and nobody has that much time to listen or read, I thought of expressing my thoughts and feelings through these short poems.
Everyone has many inspiring persons in his or her family, friends, business and work circle who encourage you positively in your growth and achieving your dreams; however, such persons are rare.
If you are ambitious and want to explore and understand yourself to reach your full potential, you must look outside and beyond this circle. But you are constrained by the daily grind and don’t know how and where to find such people; therefore, the best way is to read books that inspire you and urge you to attain your desired goals.
The Provocateur: Spilling Beans By All Means, is one of those books that will fire your desire and aspire to do something big. It will make you think and act, taking you out of your comfort zone.
➝ Interesting book title: The Provocateur: Spilling Beans By All Means. What does it mean?
Basically, human beings are a lazy lot and do not want to venture out of their comfort zone until pushed. We don’t act on our own. Our emotions guide us; jealousy is one such emotion that drives us crazy. When we see someone in friends and family circle or neighbourhood achieving something such as a materialistic, tangible or intangible goal, like getting an expensive car, buying a house or getting into some lucrative position in a job or business, we think of outdoing him or her out of jealousy, not out of our own urge or will. As such, jealousy is a negative world.
On the other hand, you get prompted to go out of your comfort zone to achieve something great when you are teased, incited or provoked to do something. All the poems in this book are meant to provoke you to get out of your comfort zone, arouse your curiosity, and make you realise your unlimited hidden and latent potential to go out and live life to your fullest potential.
The image on the cover page is about bullfighting in Spain, where the bull is provoked to get into fighting mode by showing a piece of red cloth. The title of the book is about provoking you by all means.
➝ How does Australian culture and your Indian background influence your writing?
Actually, this is not culture-specific work but is applicable to all cultures. Rather it is about human nature. However, having exposure to two different cultures adds up to your understanding, worldview and wisdom. The window of opportunities is wider in this country where imagination is only your limit to do anything.
Excerpts from the book:
“To understand the grind what is behind
It is utterly important to have an open mind
Having an open mind is to realise that
Everything has a context, and nothing is defined”
“Don’t try to build physical or mental construct
However robust, it is bound to be demolished
Time is brute, better move and be astute
Don’t stagnate and pollute, nothing is absolute”
“Go out and find an abandoned, lonely place
In the dead of night, where the time has no trace
Scream and yell at the top of your voice to rejoice
To find yourself in a profound surround sound of choice.”
➝ How do you reconcile your vocation as a poet/writer with your other vocations as a businessman, community leader, etc.?
Creativity is an ongoing and continuous mental activity. The fact is that the busier you are, the acutest it gets. If you have nothing to do and are not engaged in any purposeful activity, your creativity drops to zero. Besides business, I am actively engaged in community work and politics. I believe that if you have the inclination and urge to do anything, you will definitely find the time. During COVID-19, I learned the Russian language through the app Duolingo.
➝ What’s your process of transferring an idea or inspiration on paper?
Real-life situations act as trigger points and give words to ideas or thoughts. If you have a view and have a genuine concern for society and social issues, the words will automatically flow to you once you pick up a pen and paper and start writing.
The arrival of social media gave voice to everyone. I was encouraged by the positive feedback from so many people about my outbursts and rantings on Facebook. Earlier, it was impossible even to get a letter to the editor to see the light of the day until and unless you knew the editor or showered praise on the editor or the publication. I had the habit of writing such letters.
➝ So your second book is ready. Throw some light on it.
My next book is about geopolitics and international relations. This book envisages studying and understanding the political, economic and social developments and technological advancements post-World War II that led to the power shift from the United Kingdom to the United States of America. In the backdrop and continuity of these developments, an attempt is made to identify and understand the forces at play now and their dynamics to investigate how they will play out in re-shaping and realigning the prevalent global order and their implications.
In light of the developments in the post-cold war era resulting in the dismembering of the erstwhile mighty empire, the Union of Socialist Soviet Republic, a unipolar world was formed with the US at the helm of affairs as the sole arbitrator of political, economic and military power. Now, as the US seems to be slipping out and losing ground as a world leader, triggered by globalisation, it is interesting to find out the rejigging of the current order and the emergence of new world order and see where this is leading us to.
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Balvinder Ruby is a man of many vocations. His first & new book 'The Provocateur: Spilling Beans By All Means' is a #book of #poems. And of course, there is one poem about COVID-19. #TheIndianSun @BalvinderRRuby @indira_laisram https://t.co/VUlZjeFVj0
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